Apparatus for producing concrete roof tiles



May 12, 1953 A. L. BUSHORE 2,637,888

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CONCRETE ROOF TILES Filed May 4, 1950 5Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR ALBERT LOUIS BUSHORE ATTORNEY May 12, 1953 A.L. BUSHORE 2,637,888 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CONCRETE ROOF TILES FiledMay 4, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 FIG. 2

I FIG?) v INVENTOR. ALBERT LOUIS BUSHORE,

BY 4% VAX x 44,

ATTORNEY May 12, 1953 A. L. BUSHORE 2,637,888

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CONCRETE ROOF TILES Filed May 4, 1950 5Sheets-Sheet :5

FIG. 4 F|G.5

INVENTOR 'ALBERT LOUIS BUSHORE,

ATTORNEY May 12, 1953 A. L. BUSHORE Filed May 4, 1950 APPARATUS FORPRODUCING CONCRETE ROOF TILES FIG. 8

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 all . IN VENTOR' ALBERT LOUISOB'USHORE,

ATTORNEY Patented May 12, 1953 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CONCRETE ROOFTILES Albert Louis Bushore, Riverside, Calif., assignor to Frank J.Hart, San Bernardin0,Calif.

Application May 4, 1950, Serial No. 160,056

The invention consists in a new and useful improvement in apparatus forproducing concrete roof tiles. The improved apparatus is so designedthat a dense, compact, waterproof tile can be made without hand tampingor hand troweling. A novel form of hopper feeds a wet mix of concrete toa pallet and a blade cuts the concrete, leaving the proper thickness onthe pallet, and as the pallet is withdrawn from under the hopper trowelswhich are mounted adjacent the blade trowel the concrete, producing awaterproof bright finish on the tile. The particularly novel and usefulfeatures of the improved apparatus are the peculiar form of the hopperwhereby the pallet is properly charged with the material for producingthe tiles, the pallet carriage for moving the pallet into and out ofcharging position relative to the hopper, the blade and trowel carriageco-acting with the pallet carriage whereby the blade moved by itscarriage cuts the concrete to the determined thickness for the tiles,and the trowels held by their carriage trowel the material on the palletmoved by its carriage, and the novel combination of said elements in asingle, simple, sturdy structure.

While one specific embodiment of the invention is illustrated in thedrawings and hereinafter fully described, it is to be distinctlyunderstood that the scope of said invention is not limited to saidembodiment but is defined by the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is aperspective of the improved apparatus showing a completedtile ready to be removed from the apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the base of the apparatus, itscasing being removed.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, in thedirection of the arrows, some of the operating elements which are shownin Fig. 2 being removed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper portion of the baseand the feed hopper.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, in the directionof the arrows, the two carriages being shown below the hopper.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged top plan of the blade and trowel carriage, and theblade and trowels.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged top plan of the pallet carriage.

IOWS.

3 Claims. (CI. 25-43) As illustrated in the drawings, the apparatus hasa base B (Figs.'2 and 3) comprising four upright posts I on which ismounted arectangular frame F having side rails 2 and 3 and rear andfront rails 4 and 5. The upper portion of the base B (Figs. 4 and 5)comprises a rectangular frame F-I formed by upright corner ang1eirons 6on the rails 2 and 3 and transverse ang1eirons I bolted to thangle-irons 6. Angle-irons 8, normal to and bolted on the angle-irons 7,complete the frame F-I forming the upper portion of the base B. Suitablymounted on the frame F-I there is a feed hopper 9 of novel form. Thehopper 9 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) has downwardly diverging walls B-a which arefixed at their lower edges to the angle-irons I by any suitable means,as by welding, and downwardly diverging walls 9-D similarly fixed'to theangle-irons 8. Each wall 9-!) has a vertically disposed strengtheningrib 9-0. The hopper 9 has a flaring intake 9-d projecting upwardly fromthe walls 9-11 and 9-22. The portion of the hopper 9 below theangleirons I and 8 and within the frame F-I has vertical walls 9-6projecting downwardly from the lower edges of the walls Q-a and 9-D, andits lower discharge end I0 is disposed centrally of the frame F-I.

The base B has mounted therein a platform II on which is hingedlymounted a swingable platform I2 oscillatable by a head IS on a lever I4pivoted in the base B. Suitably journaled on the platform I2 there is ashaft l5 having a pulley I 6 driven by a belt I I on a motor M mountedon the platform II. Asuitable fly-wheel I3 is provided on the shaft I5.An eccentric I9 on the shaft I5 co-acts with a roller 20 (Fig. 5)suitably journaled in a suitable support 2! depending from the frameF-I, to vibrate frame F-I and the hopper 9 when lever I4 is rocked tocause head I3 to raise platform !2 to move eccentric I9 to engage roller20.

The base B has a suitable casing C (Fig. l) enclosing the base B up tothe upper edge of the frame F. A casing C-I extends forwardly of thebase B and has side walls 22 and a front wall 23. The forward end of thelever I4 projects through a slot 23' in the wall 23 and has a suitablepedal I4 on its outwardly projected end.

Suitably mounted on the angle-irons 6 at the lower end of the frame F-I,there is a pair of angle-irons 24 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5) provided withtracks 25, respectively. The forward ends of the angle-irons 24 aresupported on a bracket 26 onthe upper edge of the front wall 23 of thecasing C-I. Suitably mounted on the angle-irons G at the upper end ofthe frame F-I, there is a pair of angle-irons Z'l (Figs. 1, 4 and 5)provided with tracks 28, respectively. Tracks extend outwardly fromtracks 26 to dispose carriage 23 for removal of the pallet.

A pallet carriage 29 (Figs. 1 and 8) is slidably mounted on the tracks25 by means of rollers 30 and has a suitable fram 31 with adjustablescrews 3l-a to serve as a holder for the pallet 32 (Fig. 1), and atransverse handle bar 33 at its front end. A spring-pressed latch 34(Figs. 8 and 9) is provided at the left end of the bar 33 to co-act witha latch socket 35 on the left-hand front angle-iron 6 (Fig. 1) forlocking the carriage 29 in its rear position to dispose the pallet 32under the feed hopper 9.

A blade and trowel carriage 36 is slidably mounted on the tracks 28 bymeans of rollers 31. (Figs. 1 and 7.) Guard rails 33 (Fig. 1) havinginverted U-shaped cross-sections are mounted on the angle-irons G androllers 39 (Fig. 7) on the carriage 3E co-act with the rails 38 'toretain the carriage 35 on the rails 28. Rollers 40 (Fig. 8) on thecarriage 2i! co-actwith the. lower faces ll of the angle-irons 27' toretain the carriage 22 on the rails 25.

The carriage 36 (Fig. 7) has mounted therein by means of bolts 42 ablade 43 and also adjustably mounted therein a pair oi trowels M. Eachtrowel is has a body comprising a plate Mrs and end flanges A i-b, and ablade M-e of suitable form mounted on the body fi l-o. A rod '45 mountedin the sides 36-61. of the carriage 55 passes through register ngcircular openings in the flanges M-b of the trowel M to support "thetrowel in the carriage. Bolts '45 "tapped into the sides 36-a passthrough slots in the flanges id-l1 of the trowel 44 and nuts 4'! on thebolts 46 fix the trowel M in adjusted relation to the carriage 36.

The carriage 36 has a latch 4.8 (Figs. 1 and 7) pivoted in a bracket 49on a cross-piece 36-27 of the carriage 36 intermediate the blade '63 andthe trowels A spring 58 mounted on the crosspiece 36-!) biases the latchMl to co-act with a latch socket 5| on the frame F-l (Fig. 5') to lockthe carriage 3G in its rear position to dispose the blade under the feedhopperfi. A rod 52 connects the latch 48 with a handle 53 pivoted on thefront cross-piece 36-c of the carriage 3%. A spring 54 is interposedbetween the cross-piece 35-0 and the handle 53 to bias the handle 53 tohold the latch it in operative position.

A spray-head 55 (Figs. '1 and 2) is suitably mounted in the casing C4and so disposed as to spray water under pressure against the blades 44-0of the trowels 44 when the carriages 2s and 1-26 are in their rearpositions. Water is supplied to the head 55 by a suitable conduit 55 inwhich there is a suitable control valve '57 operated by a rod 58 whichprojects through the front wall 23 of the casing (3-! and has on itsprojected end a presser plate '59. A coil spring so on the rod 58 isinterposed between the wall 23 and the plate 59 to bias the rod 58 tonormally close the valve 51.

A pair of brackets 6| (Figs. 2 and 3) mounted on the posts I of the baseB extend into the cas ing 04 to support a sleeve 62 which is braced by apair of struts 63 also mounted on the posts I'. Slidably received in thesleeve 62 is a rod 64 on the top of which is mounted a suitable plate'5. The plate 65 is raised from its normal position resting on the upperend of the s1eeve='B2-'hy'a lever 66 pivoted on the base B and connected0 the rod 54 by a suitable linkage 67. The lever 66 extends through anopening 23 in the front wall 23 of the casing 0-! and has on its outerend a pedal 88.

A lug 68 (Figs. 5 and 6) is mounted in the rear part of the frame F( andso disposed as to support the rear end of the blade 43, So that t bladeis in close juxtaposition with the open end H) of the hopper 9 when thecarriage 38 is in its rear position. A suitable discharge lip 6 (Fig. l)is mounted on the lower edge of the frame F-i below the tracks 25 toguide any drip- .pings of surplus cement from the frame F-[ into a sump(not shown.) in the casing C-i. A discharge port Mi is provided in theWall 22 of the casing Ci for draining from the sump the cement and thewash water from head 55 into a y suitable portable receptacle '5 l.

aving described the structural details of the apparatus, its use andoperation will now be (lescribed. The carriage 36 having been moved toits rear position, the blade 23 closes the discharge end it of thehopper The hopper 9 is then charged with a suitable quantity of materialsuitable for producing the tiles. Experience in the actual operation ofthe improved apparatus has demonstrated that the desirable materialconsists of mixture of ceincnt and said with Sui-licient water toproduce a wet inis: which has a tendency to pack without flowing. Thepallet 32 having been disposed in the carriage 23, the carriage 5:8moved into frame F-l, to its rear position, and fixed in such positionby the latch in the socket 335. The carriage 36 is then moved forwardlyto remove the blade 43 from under the end ill of the hopper 9. The lever14 is rocked by depressing the pedal HS and the motor ii/i, beingenergized, rotates the shaft 15 causing the eccentric (9 to vibrate theframe F and the hopper 9. This vibration causes the material in thehopper g to feed downwardlyonto the pallet 32.

It is to be noted that the hopper 3, as above described, is so designedthat its cross-section increases downwardly, which allows the materialto move downwardly without packing in the hopper 3. When this form ofhopper is vibrated, the wet mix moves downwardly quickly and completelyfills all of the depressions in the pallet so that it then packstogether filling all voids and permitting no air pockets, andconsequently pro ducing a tile so dense that it is Waterproof.

The carriage 35 is then moved rearwardly, causing the blade 43 to movebetween the material in the pallet 32 and the lower end I ll of thehopper '3. It is obvious that the adjustment of the pallet 32 by screws3l-a in the carriage 29 determines the desired thickness of the materialon. the pallet 32, thereby precisely measuring the quantity of thematerial desired to form the tile. When the carriage (it is in its rearposition, the rear edge of the blade 43 being supported by the lug it islocked in such position by the latch #53 in the socket 5|. The valve537! is then opened by pressure applied to the plate 59 and Water fromthe head 55 sprays the blades, 64-0 of the trowels 44 thoroughly Wettingthem. The latch 3 of the carriage Z9 is then released and the carriage'29 is drawn forwardly, moving the mold 32 from under the blade 43 andpassing it under the trowels M. It is obvious that the adjustedpositious-ofthe trowels 44 in the carriage 3-5 are such that the blades44-o of the trowels M trowel the upper surface of the material on thepallet 32, producing a waterproof bright finish, thereby completing theproduction of the tile.

When the carriage" 29 carrying the completed tile has reached itsforward position (Fig. 1), the pallet 32 with the tile therein isdisposed above the plate 65. The lever 66 is then rocked by depressingthe pedal 65 thereby elevating the plate 65 which ejects the pallet 32from the carriage 29, and the pallet 32 with the tile can be removedfrom the apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim 1s:

1. In an apparatus for producing tiles, the combination of a frame; ahopper mounted on said frame, and having a bottom discharge port; atrack mounted on said frame and having a portion under said hopper and asecond portion extending outwardly from said hopper; a second trackmounted in said frame and having a portion under the first-mentionedportion of said first track, a second portion under the secondmentionedportion of said first track, and a third portion extending outwardlyfrom said secondmentioned portion of said first track; a carriagemounted on said first track; a gate for opening and closing saiddischarge port, mounted on said carriage; a plurality of trowels mountedon said carriage; a second carriage mounted on said second track; apallet removably mounted in said second carriage; and means for removingsaid pallet from" said second carriage, the parts being so relatedthattravel of the first carriage causes said gate to open and close saidport, and travel of said second carriage disposes said pallet incharging position relative said hopper, automatically trowels the chargeon said pallet, and disposes said pallet for functioning of saidremoving means.

2. In an apparatus for producing tiles, the combination of a frame; ahopper in said frame for material for producing tiles and having abottom discharge port; means, slidable in said frame below said hopperfor opening and closing said port and for troweling the tiles; a palletslidable in said frame below said means; and means below said pallet forejecting said pallet from said frame, the charging of material on thepallet, the troweling of the tiles and the positioning of the pallet forejection being effected by sliding said opening and closing andtroweling means, and by the sliding of said pallet.

3. In an apparatus for producing tiles, the combination of a frame; ahopper mounted on said frame, and having a bottom discharge port; acarriage below said hopper and slidable in said frame into and out oftwo positions of adjustment; a closure for said port carried by saidcarriage; troweling means carried by said carriage; a second carriageslidable in said frame below said first carriage into and out of threepositions of adjustment; a pallet removably mounted in said secondcarriage; and means for removing said pallet from said second carriage,the parts being so related that the port is closed and opened when saidfirst carriage is in its two positions of adjustment, respectively, thepallet is charged when the port is open and said second carriage in oneof its positions, the charge on the pallet is troweled when said secondcarriage is moved into a second position, and said pallet is disposedfor functioning of said removing means when said second carriage is inits third position.

ALBERT LOUIS BUSHORE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 915,848 Garrison et a1. Mar. 23, 1909 1,347,484 Brown July 20,1920 1,733,706 Widin Oct. 29, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date20,423 Great Britain Jan. 8, 1903 24,699 Norway June 15, 1914

